Laying-out and embalming board



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.. N. T. SHAW, W. S. OARLILE & J. W. DANN.

LAYING ,OUT AND EMBALMING BOARD.

Patented Nov. 10, 1885.

N. PEILRS. Phow-Lilhugraphcr. Wnihingivn. D. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. N. T. SHAW, WQS. OARLILE & J. W. DANN.

LAYING OUT AND EMBALMING BOARD.

N0. 330,160. Patented NOV. 10, 1885.

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NOAH T. SHAW, \VILLIAM S. GARLILE, AND JESSE W. DANN, OF COLUMBUS,

' OHIO.

LAtlNGOUT AND EMBALNHNG BOARD.

:SPEGIFICATION 'orming part of Letters Patent No. 330,160, datedNovember 10, 1885.

Application filed May 7,1?85. Serial No. 164,722.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, NOAH T.SHAW,WILL- 1AM S. GARLILE, and Jnssn W.DANN, citizens of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the countyof Franklin and State of Ohio, haveinvented new and useful Improve mentsin Laying-Out and Embalming Boards, of which the following is aspecification.

We have improved the undertakers board to for laying-out and embalmingcorpses in matters of construction, of combinations, and ofadjustme11ts,wliich facilitate the work of the undertaker in theoperation of laying-out the body and of adjusting and holding the headin any desired position.

An important matter of our improvement is the construction of the frameof the board in bent or yoke sections, each section having the shape ofan t. in. cross-section to form the vertical sides of the board, and aninterior horizontal projecting rim part, to which a rattan is lacedbetween the yokearms, giving ventilation and lightness to the board. Aeoolingboard by which these objects are at- 2 tained is represented inthe accompanying drawings, which will now be described preparatory to aproper designation of the devices and combinations of parts claimed asour invention.

lteferring'to the drawings, Figure 1 rep resents a view in perspectiveof an inclined canopied laying -out and embalming board as set up foruse, the canopy being shown as raised at one side to expose theadjustable head-rest. Fig. 2 represents a vertical longitudinal sectionof the same. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section of the board asfolded. represents across-section of one of the bent or yoke hingedsections of the 0 board, showing the form or the cross-section of thebent frame; and Fig. 5 a top view, and Fig. 6 a bottom View, of one ofthe bent-frame hinged sections of the board. Fig. 7 represents inperspective the adjustable head-rest enlarged, and fig. 8 a verticalsection of the same.

The board is made with a cane surface,and consists of two sections, A B,preferably of equal length, hi nged together,so as to be folded,

as shown in Fig. 3, to form an undertakers (No mode.)

cabinet,within which the supporting-legs are hinged and folded, and tohold the canopy and things used for embalming. Each section is formed ofa bent frame, like a yoke, a, the ends of which are firmly connected andjoined 5 5 by a cross-bar, b, suitably set in. The yokeframe is bentfrom an L-shaped piece, and is used with the base 0 of the L. uppermostand standing inward, Fig. 3, to receive the perforations which receivethe rattan, which is 6 laced and secured in any suitable manner. The endcross-bar, b, has the same form in crosssection as the bent frame, andrenders the latter firm and strong. The outer end of the yoke isrounded, and the L shape of the bent 6 piece renders the frame stiff,strong, andlight.

The sections are hinged together by hinges d, preferably secured on theouter sides of the yokes, and are of such construction as to form ironbearings for the joined parts when ex- 7 tended and abutting. Eachsection is provided with legs 6, hinged so as to be folded within theirrespective frame-sections, and they are held and braced in theirsupporting positions against blocks 6 by suitable locking-braces, 7 f f,hinged to the cross-bars b b at the joining ends of the sections, so asto be closed within the board when latter is folded. The depth of eachsection within the bent frame is sufficient, when the two sections arefolded,to 8 hold the legs and braces, the canopy, and other arts.

p The free ends of the braces may be fastened to the cross-rounds of thelegs by any suitable locking device, so as to hold the legs and the 8 5board against accidental crushing or falling under the weight of thebody and in changing the position of the board. The rear legs areshorter than the front ones to give the desired inclination of the boardfor embalming, and 0 when fastened they stand in outwardly-inclinedpositions to each other, as shown.

The legs are hinged to the. under sides of that part of the L-shapedframe or yoke to which the rattan is laced, and the abutting 5 blocks 6for the legs are also secured to these frame parts against the innerwalls of the vertical sides 0'. At the rounded ends the yokeframes areprovided with sockets adapted to receive and hold the posts forsupporting the canopy. The headposts are the shortest, so

I as to support the canopy in horizontal position.

The head-rest consists of a ring, g, of suitable diameter, pivoted atopposite diameter points by pins h to the ends of a semi-ring, 2', whichembraces said ring and is pivotally mounted by a bearing, j, equidistantbetween the pins h, upon the upper end of a flat bar, It, fitted I thesemi-ring is cylindrical, and is formed with a screw-thread to receive aclamp-nut, n, by which the semi-ring is clamped at any desired angle toeither side, while the ring can be set within the semi-ring so as toincline it as may be desired to set the head. This device gives threeadjustments, and forms a circular rest in which the set of the ring inone direction is made by the clamp-nut, and in the other direction itsset is controlled upon its diameter-pins by the desired position of thehead, which rests within said ring. This device is a sort of universalrest, and

gives every facility for placing the head in any desired position, andenables the undertaker to work around it from either side.

A scale may be formed along the edge of the board, by which the lengthof the corpse can be determined for the length of the coffin.

Referring to the yoke-frames, a very simple way of getting out thepieces for the bent parts is to divide or cut a T-shaped block so as toproduce two equal parts, each of an L shape, as shown in Fig. 9, andthen properly steam and bend the parts in a former into the proper yokeshape.

Instead of using separate canopy-supporting posts we may use a bowed oryoke-shaped support at the head and at the foot, and make themadjustable in height by slots and screws, so as to allow them to beturned down upon the board when not in use.

We claim 1. The hingedframesections ofa laying-out and embalming board,composed each of a bar L shape in cross-section, bent in yoke shape,united at its ends by a cross-bar, the rims of the bars standing inwardto brace and strengthen the frames and receive the woven rattan,substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a laying-out board, of a pivotedring head rest,an adjustable holder therefor, and an adjustable support for said ringholder, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

3. The head-rest of a laying-out board, consisting of a pivoted ring, apivotedsemi-ring, a vertically-adjustable bar, and afastening devicetherefor, substantially as described.

4. The head-rest of a laying-out board, consisting of a pivoted ring anda semi-ring holder therefor having a cylindrical bearing,avertically-adjustable ratchet-bar having an eye to receive saidcylindrical bearing, a clamp-nut for adjustably holding said semiring tosaid bar, and a spring-catch for adjustably holding saidratehet-bar,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands .in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

NOAH T. SHAW. WILLIAM S. GARLILE.

JESSE W. DANN.

Witnesses:

J. L. DANN, W. F. SHAW.

